WO2004016876A2 - Connecting profiled piece for plate-like panels - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a connecting profiled piece on longitudinal and transversal sides (3, 4) of plate-like panels (1, 1', 1'') that are preferably used for floors (2), and even walls and ceilings. The inventive connecting profiled pieces are arranged both on the longitudinal sides as well as on the transversal sides (3, 4) of the panels (1, 1', 1''). By virtue of the fact that the stressed contact areas (11, 12, 13, 14) of the connecting profiled pieces are placed on portions of the panels, which are not flexible, the assembled panels have a relatively high standard of quality and stability with regard to the covering.

Description

 CONNECTION PROFILE FOR PANEL-LIKE PANELS

The present invention is concerned with positive connection profiles for panel-like panels, in particular with panels made of wood or similar material, which is suitable for laying parquet floors or laminate floors.

Such connection profiles on the long sides and transverse sides of plate-like panels are well known in the prior art and serve on the one hand as a laying aid when gluing the floor covering to be installed, so that the form-fitting connection profiles make additional clamping means unnecessary and on the other hand they enable the glue-free installation of a floor covering, which the Possibility opened to resume and correct the floor covering later. For example, US Pat. No. 6,345,481 B1 shows a connection profile that can be arranged on the longitudinal and transverse sides of plate-like panels, so that the laying of the panels without glue and without tools initially on the transverse sides of the panels to a long row by angling the panels to be created is made to thereby create a Immerse the locking pin in a groove so that a tongue-and-groove connection is then created by lowering the applied panels, which holds the sides of the panels together under a certain transverse and axial tensile stress, in order to avoid gluing in certain applications. Following this laying step of the plate-like panels, the transverse side is produced by turning in the tongue and groove connection. It can happen that due to great friction in the longitudinal tongue-and-groove connection both damage to the connecting profile as well as blows to the transverse profile and thus the quality of the installed floor can be reduced. Another disadvantage of this invention is that the connecting profile does not keep the possibility open to glue the panels to one another in such a way that additional insulation or sealing against moisture is unnecessary, for example with a so-called floating laying of the floor covering, the placing under a film.

Furthermore, a connection between plate-like panels, in particular for floors, is known from the prior art, which is arranged on the longitudinal and end faces of a rectangular panel, a pin-like bolt being horizontally inserted as a positioning aid in a groove provided for this purpose and additionally a pin being provided which locks the tongue and groove connection. It is perceived as a disadvantage of this known tongue and groove connection that the stresses that arise when entering the surface of the installed panels are absorbed by the relatively weak pin and the likewise relatively weak and resilient locking pin, so that a vertical displacement of the Folded panels cannot be ruled out on flexible or uneven subsoil, which means that gaps are created in worn areas of the installed floor due to abrasion on the connecting surfaces of the panels and squeaking is also caused, and when the vertical joint surfaces rub against each other.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve the quality of tongue-and-groove connections and, at the same time, to enable the panels to be laid without the aid of impact tools.

This object is achieved with the features of the main claims essential to the invention.

Further features according to the invention can be found in the subclaims.

The connecting profile according to the invention on the longitudinal and transverse sides of plate-like panels, preferably for floors, but also for walls and ceilings, in which the connecting joints of the plate-like panels are form-fitting by means of at least one locking pin which resiliently engages in at least one first groove and has several contact areas characterized in that the tongue and groove connection has at least one contact area for supporting the panels, which is arranged on or in the immediate vicinity of the plane of the connecting joint between the panels on non-resilient parts of the profile.

The connecting profiles according to the invention are advantageously arranged on the plate-like panels on the longitudinal and transverse sides. It is advantageous that the longitudinal connection joints run perpendicular to the surface plane of the panels and the transverse connection joints enclose a certain small angle between the surface plane and the planes of the connection joints.

It is also advantageous that a first groove is arranged below the connecting joints, which has at least one horizontal plane, which serves as a centering and reference surface.

It is also advantageous that this first groove has an elongated oblique surface which extends in the direction of the locking pin and which

Locking pin has at least one inclined plane, which serves as a contact surface of the tongue and groove connection.

It is also advantageous that a further inclined surface is formed at the beginning of the locking pin, which serves as a sliding surface.

The elastic locking pin is advantageously designed such that it projects beyond the connecting joints or the parting planes of the panels. It is also advantageous that the resilient locking pin virtually closes with an inclined surface in the lower initial area, so that a widening gap is formed between the groove and the locking pin.

It is also advantageous that the second longitudinal side opposite the first long side is arranged below the connecting joint, a first pin which has at least one horizontal contact surface and below the Contact surface has a slope, both of which serve as contact surfaces or contact areas.

It is also advantageous that the groove in the end region has a slope that has the same inclination as the slope in the end region of the locking pin, so that a contact area is advantageously formed in this way, which pulls the two panels together in the axial direction due to the spring action of the locking pin.

The clear width of the groove in which the locking pin engages is different in shape and size from the profile of the locking pin. This results in advantages that are particularly advantageous when the panels are glued together.

Another advantage of the present invention can be seen in the fact that the relatively elongated bevels of the locking pin and the groove have different inclinations, so that at a predetermined location, which is provided in a stable part of the connecting profile, a linear contact area is formed which extends over extends the entire long side of the profile. This contact area is so important because it counteracts one of the panels against loads from above. Without this line contact, the one panel would only be supported downward on the slope of the flexible locking pin. This additional line contact advantageously lies on or close to the level of the connecting joint in an area of the panel that is stable against loading from above. Another advantage of the linear contact area is that the linear contact, in cooperation with the horizontal contact surfaces, results in a play-free horizontal fit. Although such a design is statically overdetermined, it has the advantageous effect that the material of the panel is elastically and plastically deformed due to the much higher surface pressure compared to a surface load, and dimensional tolerances can thereby be compensated for.

It is also advantageous in the present tongue and groove connection that glue pockets are arranged both below the connection joints and in the end region of the tongue and groove connection, which are used to hold glue.

It is also advantageous that the horizontal contact surface of the transverse profile of the panels is very much smaller than the horizontal contact surface of the longitudinal profile, which among other things offers the possibility of laying the plate-like panels without a striking tool. As a result, the corresponding groove in the transverse connection profile is much smaller than the comparable groove in the longitudinal profile.

It is also advantageous that a gap is provided between the surface of the locking pin of the cross profile and the groove, which, among other things, makes it possible to make the cross connection of the panels by hand.

To adapt problems when folding the panels due to the different shape of the longitudinal and transverse profiles To avoid, it is advantageous to flatten the profile on at least one corner of the cross profile or to set it down completely.

The method according to the invention for laying panel-like panels on preferably floors, but also on walls and ceilings, is characterized by the following advantageous method steps:

Placing a first panel on or on the flat surface;

Transverse arrangement in the longitudinal direction of a second panel while angling the second panel while simultaneously inserting the locking pin into the locking groove / and

then lower the second panel until the surfaces of both panels form an angle of α = 180 °.

Subsequently, another panel (or row of panels) is offset along the longitudinal joints on the already installed panels using the same procedure.

The other panels are then inclined at an angle to the longitudinal profile of the already installed first row of panels, inserted obliquely from above along the longitudinal side and then swung down, the transverse profile automatically engaging under slight pressure from above and exerting a transverse and axial force. The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to drawings. It shows

1: a schematic representation of the way of laying the panels according to the invention (1, 1 ', 1' ') /

2 shows a schematic cross section through the longitudinal connection profile according to the invention with longitudinal grooves (9, 15) and longitudinal pins (8, 14);

Fig. 3: a schematic representation of a transverse connection profile according to the invention of two panels (1, 1 ") on the transverse side of the panels (1,1 ').

1 shows a schematic plan view of collapsed rectangular panels 1, 1 ', 1 "'. The panels are laid in the so-called ship's floor pattern, ie the transverse sides 4, 4 'of the panels 1, 1', 1" are also included With the aid of the connecting profile according to the invention, they are joined one behind the other and, parallel to this, the longitudinal sides 3 and 3 'are also placed against one another by means of the connecting profiles according to the invention. It is important that the adjacent panels 1''bridge the connecting joint 6. As a result of this type of laying (ship floor) the opposite sides of the rectangular panels 1 are different, that is to say complementary to one another. In Fig. 2 the longitudinal connection profile of two panels 1, 1 '' is shown schematically in cross section. The panels 1, 1 '' lie on a flat surface 2, which in the simplest case is the floor of a living room. When laying the panels, the panels 1 are first placed on the flat base 2 and, while angling the surface plane 7 'at a certain angle, the second panels 1''are swiveled in so that the angle α is 180 ° at the end of the laying. In this position of the panels 1, 1 ″, the contact areas 10, 11, 12, 13 arise, the function of which is described in more detail below. The first contact area 10 is formed by the connecting joint 5, the planes of the connecting joint 5 being perpendicular to the plane of the surfaces 7, 7 'of the panels 1, 1''. Underneath the connection joint 5 and the contact area 10, a recess 23 is formed in the panel 1 ″, which serves as a glue pocket. Another glue pocket 24 is provided in the lower region of the panels 1 ″ in the groove 15. In the event that the panels 1, 1 '' are to be glued to one another, a suitable glue is inserted into the glue pockets 24, 28, which flows into the adjacent gaps when the connection is pressed together and thus seals the panels so that they are sealed to the outside leading joints 5, 5 'can not absorb moisture. This makes it possible, among other things, to lay the floor without an additional moisture barrier, such as an underlying film. The joint 5 'widens outwards, thereby preventing the glue from spraying out onto the substrate and preventing undesired gluing to the substrate. A further contact region 11 is formed by the flat horizontal surfaces 14, 14 'of the groove 9 and the projecting pin 20, which lie directly on top of one another mainly serves to center the two panels 1, l ¹ 'exactly on one another, which is additionally supported by the fact that, due to the point contact of the two bevels 16 and 22 of the groove 9 and the pin 20, a linear contact area 12 is formed which is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the level of the connecting joint 5. The position of these points of contact or the line of contact is selected such that it lies on stable parts of the profile, so that occurring loads are absorbed by parts of the connecting profile that are not elastically resilient. The contact area 12 is so important because without this line contact, the support of the panel 1 'downward would only take place at the bevel 23' of the resilient locking pin 8 of the panel 1, which would significantly impair the stability of the tongue and groove connection. In the present exemplary embodiment, the inclined surfaces 16, 22 are flat, but they can also be spherical or convex in order to produce a linear contact region 12. Between the wall or the end of the groove 9 and the pin 20 there is a cavity which serves, among other things, to compensate for tolerances and defines precisely delimited contact areas 11, 12. In the end region of the locking pin 8 and the groove 15, a slope 23 or 23 'is arranged. In the assembled state, the two flat surfaces 23, 23 'exert axial forces on one another, which lead to the locking of the connecting profile. In the drawing behind the contact area 13, a narrow horizontal and then an oblique gap 18 extends between the end of the locking pin 8 and the end of the groove 15, which ends in the glue pocket 24 mentioned above. The recess in the glue pocket 24 merges into the joint 27, which widens outwards in the shape of a funnel. At the end of the joint 27 is a slope 19 integrally formed, which mainly serves to make the edges of the joint stable and to avoid jamming dirt on the substrate when laying.

The angle of the bevels 23, 23 'to the vertical is preferably in the range between 30 ° and 50 °, changes between +/- 15% being quite common.

3 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention in the cross section of two panels 1, 1 'in the area of the tongue-and-groove connection. In contrast to the connection joint in the longitudinal connection profile, the connection joint 6 for the transverse connection profile assumes a slight inclination of approximately 4 ° to the vertical of the tread surface 7. At the end of the slightly inclined parting line 6, a recess 25 is made, the width and depth of which is approximately 0.2 mm to 0.4 mm. The length of the recess 25 is approximately half of the entire parting line 6. Below the recess 25 there is a pin 20 'with a horizontal surface 14''which engages in the recess 9', which has a horizontal surface at approximately the same point 14 ''', so that the two horizontal contacting surfaces 14'',14''' form the contact area 11 ', which is to be regarded as the reference area. The depth of the recess 9 'is somewhat greater than the horizontal length of the pin 20' which projects into the recess 9 ', so that an air gap is formed between the wall of the recess 9' and the end of the pin 20 '. Overall, the recess 9 'is slightly larger and shaped differently than the contours of the protruding pin 20', which ends with two bevels 22 'in a horizontal surface 26. The complementary surface 26 'of the locking pin 8' is spaced about 0.2 mm apart. Following the horizontal Surfaces 26, 26 'extend upwards the two contact surfaces 23', 23 '', which form the contact area 13 'of the actual locking. In the locked state between the panels 1, 1 'there is an axial force which presses the two panels 1, 1' together. Between the upper surface 29 of the locking pin 8 'and the upper surface 29' of the recess 15 'there is an air gap 30, which must be larger than the air gap 28, so that there is a supporting contact near the parting line when the panel 1' is loaded too much 6 is coming. The interaction of the two air gaps 28, 30 is very important because, just as with the air gap 15 ', only in this way can the load be ensured at the locations provided for this purpose. The air gap 30 is also used so that the locking pin 8 'can yield while inserting panel 1, 1'. Thus, the transverse connection profile has three defined contact areas 10 ', 11', 13 ', which are sufficient due to the lower load than in the longitudinal connection profile. The gap 15 'of approximately 1 mm in width ends in a funnel shape in the lower region of the panels 1, 1' by bevels 19 '. The funnel-shaped runout of the gap 15 'has the advantage, among other things, that the edge regions are generally more stable. Since the cross profile extends over a comparatively short length and is supported at the ends by the longitudinal profiles due to the offset installation method (ship floor), the cross profile does not have to endure the same load-bearing capacity from above as the longitudinal profile. This enables a design for the cross profile that allows installation without tools.

Due to the fact that a tongue and groove connection is arranged on the panels both on the long side and on the transverse side, the panels 1, 1 'according to the invention have a high height Quality standard which is promoted in particular by the fact that the main load areas or contact areas 10, 11, 12, 13 are predominantly not arranged on resilient parts of the entire tongue and groove connection.

Claims

PC T - Anme 1 fertilizer Our mark: GL 7003 int.PATENTANSCHUCHE 1. Connection profile on the longitudinal and transverse sides (3, 4) of plate-like panels (1, 1 ', 1' ') preferably for floors (2), but also on walls and ceilings, the connecting joints (5, 6) of the plate-like panels (1, 1 ', 1' ') lie against one another in a form-fitting manner by means of at least one locking pin (8, 8') which engages in at least one first groove (9, 9 ') and at least one contact area (10, 11, 12, 13 ), characterized in that the tongue-and-groove connection on the long side (3) has at least one contact area (10, 10 ', 11, 11', 12, 13, 13 ') for supporting the panels (1, l', l ''), which is arranged on or in the immediate vicinity of the connecting joint (5, 6) between the panels (1, 1 ') on non-resilient parts of the profile. 2. Connection profile according to claim 1, characterized in that the plate-like panels (1, 1 ', 1') on the longitudinal and transverse sides at least one groove (9, 9 ', 15, 15') and at least one locking pin (8, 8 ') exhibit. 3. Connection profile according to claim 1, so that the longitudinal connection joints (5) run perpendicular to the surface (7) of the panels (1, 1 ', 1'). 4. Connection profile according to claim 1, so that the transverse joints (6) enclose a certain angle to the surface plane (7, 7 ') of the panels (1, l', l '). 5. Connection profile according to claim 1, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that a first groove (9, 9 ') is arranged below the connection joints (5, 6), which has at least one horizontal plane (11, 11'). 6. Connection profile according to claim 1 and 5, so that the longitudinal first groove (9, 9 ') has at least one inclined surface (16) which extends in the direction of the locking pin (8, 8'). 7. Connection profile according to claim 1, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c hn e t that the at least one locking pin (8, 8 ') at least one inclined plane (17), which serves as the contact surface of the tongue and groove connection. 8. Connection profile according to claim 1, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the at least one locking pin (8, 8 ') at least one inclined plane (17 '), which serves as a sliding surface. 9. Connection profile according to claim 1, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the locking pin (8, 8 ') is resilient. 10. Connection profile according to one of the preceding claims, d a d u r c h g e k e n n e e c e n c e that the locking pin (8, 8 ') protrudes beyond the connection joints (5, 6). 11. Connection profile according to one of the preceding claims, that the first inclined contact plane (17) and the second inclined sliding plane (17 ') are arranged in the end region of the elastically resilient locking pin (8, 8'). 12. Connection profile according to one of the preceding claims, that the locking pin (8, 8 ') ends with an inclined surface (19, 19') in the lower region of the locking pin (8, 8 '). 13. Connection profile according to claim 1, so that a second pin (20, 20 ') is arranged on the second longitudinal side (3') opposite the first longitudinal side (3) opposite the first longitudinal side (3) and has at least one horizontal pin Support surface (21, 21 ') and below the support surface (21, 21') has a slope (22, 22 '). 14. Connection profile according to claim 1 and 13, characterized in that the following the bevel (22, 22 ') extends a groove (15) which has at least one inclined contact surface (23, 23') 15. Connection profile according to claim 13, so that the groove (15) is larger in its internal width than the locking pin (8, 8 '). 16. Connecting profile according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the slope (16, 16 ') of the locking pin (8, 8') has a different inclination than the slope (22, 22 ') above the groove (15, 15') having. 17. Connecting profile according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that between the slope (16, 16 ') of the locking pin (8, 8') and the slope (22, 22 ') of the groove (15, 15') a linear contact area ( 12) is formed, which extends over the entire long side (3, 3 '). 18. Connection profile according to claim 16, so that the linear contact area (12) is arranged such that it lies on or next to the plane of the connection joint (5, 6) in the direction of the end of the first groove (9). 19. Connection profile according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that both below the connection joint (5) and in End region of the groove (15, 15 ') glue pockets (23, 24; are arranged. 20. Connection profile according to one of the preceding claims, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the horizontal bearing surface (14 ') of the pin (20 ') very much smaller than the horizontal contact surface (11 ') of the longitudinal pin (20). 21. Connection profile according to one of the preceding claims, so that the groove (9 ') arranged below the transverse joint (6) is very much smaller in depth than the comparable groove (9) in the longitudinal profile. 22. Connection profile according to one of the preceding claims, that the contact surfaces (23, 23 ') in the end region of the locking pin (8, 8') enclose an angle between 10 ° and 50 °. 23. Connection profile according to one of the preceding claims, that the profile of the tongue and groove connection is cut off at least at one end of the transverse side (4, 4 ') of the panels (1, 1', 1 ''). 24. Method for laying plate-like panels (1, 1 ', 1'') which have tongue and groove connections on the longitudinal and transverse sides, on or on a flat base (2), preferably walls, ceilings and floors, characterized by the following process steps: - Placing a first panel (1) (row of panels) on / on the flat base (2); - Transverse arrangement in the longitudinal direction of a second panel (1 ') or row of panels and insertion of the at least one pin (8') into the at least one groove (15 ') of the first panels (1) while angling the plane of the second panels ( 1 ' ) ; and Lowering the second panels (1 ') until the angle between the planes of the first panels (1) and the second panels (1') is α = 180 °; - Longitudinal arrangement of a third panel (1 '') on the first and second panels (1, 1 ') by angling the plane of the third panel (1' ') to the plane of the first and second panels (1, 1'), wherein the longitudinal axis of the third panels (1 '') forms a certain angle with the longitudinal axis of the first and second panels (1, 1 '); and Subsequently, a further panel (or row of panels) is offset along the longitudinal joints on the already installed panels (1,1 ') in the same procedure; and the other panels are then inclined at an angle from the planes to the longitudinal profile of the first row of panels (1, 1 ') that have already been laid, inserted lengthways from above and then pivoted downwards, the transverse profile automatically engaging under slight pressure from above and a transverse and axial Exercise strength.